ESPNFC's Janusz Michallik provides the lowdown on West Ham's recruitment of France international midfielder Dimitri Payet from Marseille.

West Ham will play their final season at Upton Park this season and hope to end their association with the storied ground on a high note. Here's a look at what to expect from Slaven Bilic's men as we approach the new campaign...

Preview

To finish the last season at Upton Park as an established, strong yet entertaining Premier League side capable of pushing on to bigger things.

Biggest concern

Involvement in the bloated Europa League has stymied bigger clubs than West Ham in the past, and the July...

Leicester City introduced new manager Claudio Ranieri, with the Italian announcing his goal for the season is to earn one more point then the team did last campaign.

When fighting relegation is the expectation for the new season, bringing in new management represents a serious gamble. Three clubs with such an outlook have taken on such a bet, at a moment of increasingly high stakes. New managers rarely arrive at clubs in positions of strength and winning the hearts and minds of owners, players and fans comes only from the delivery of decent results and good football.

Each of West Ham, Leicester and Newcastle are at considerable risk with their new appointments....

Slaven Bilic speaks on his love for West Ham United after he was unveiled as the club's new manager.

West Ham survived an embarrassing evening against Birkirkara in the Europa League on Thursday, reserving their Premier League class for the penalty shootout. As the Hammers proved in their FA Cup win against Everton last January, the club have a full complement of players comfortable from the spot, and that was demonstrated admirably when youngster Diego Poyet coolly put his side through.

There's little doubt, though, that the representatives from the Premier League were humbled by the Maltese...

Slaven Bilic speaks on his love for West Ham United after he was unveiled as the club's new manager.

West Ham's turgid and unconvincing 1-0 win over Maltese side Birkirkara in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Europa League on Thursday sounded an early warning to new boss Slaven Bilic.

With only James Tomkins' late winner to show for an evening of dominating possession, the board will now surely increase their attempt to sign QPR's Charlie Austin. On this showing, West Ham will struggle in Europe and the Premier League if they are forced to play without either Diafra Sakho or Andy...

Slaven Bilic has enjoyed a good start to life as manager of West Ham, with two wins in two.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic would have been impressed with what he saw in his new side's 1-0 win over Lusitanos in Europa League qualifying on Thursday.

With five players under 21 and the only goal scored by 20-year-old Elliott Lee, Bilic can congratulate himself on giving many of his academy side a taste of European football while giving himself a better idea of the club's strength in depth.

While it's perhaps unfair to speculate too much, it seems unlikely the club would have followed the same...

At the end of a baking hot summer's day, West Ham completed a leisurely 3-0 victory over Andorran side FC Lusitanos to put themselves in a strong position to advance to the next qualifying stage of the Europa League.

It seems appropriate that the Hammers should celebrate the start of their final season at the Boleyn with one of the strangest evenings ever to be seen at the old ground.

The sight of the new 1904 replica shirt in Green Street was inevitable enough. What wasn't expected though was...